New York Craft Beer Week was a blast. I had the opportunity to attend three great events — there were several more events all week long but I was a bit picky (plus I was out of town last weekend).
Clare Goggin
I started the Craft Beer celebration on Wednesday and attended Brew York Beer 2 Garden at d.b.a. Brooklyn. The event was hosted by the beer group I’ve joined here in the city (Brew York). We raised quite a bit of money for a good cause — East New York Farms — with brews donated by Brooklyn Brewery, Greenport Harbor, Sixpoint, Southampton, Dogfish Head and Kelso of Brooklyn.
The following night, I joined Jimmy Carbone of Jimmy’s No. 43 fame for Brewer’s Choice held at City Winery. Several brewers, including Pretty Things, Captain Lawrence, Kelso of Brooklyn, Ithaca and Ommegang, paired their brews with tasty eats. I had the most delicious sausage in a pretzel roll with sweet onion jelly paired with some Ithaca White Gold after I enjoyed some kimchi with Kelso Nut Brown. The Slyfox Chester County Bitter was a fantastic brew with a well balanced bitterness but it was Stillwater that ended up with the big fan favorite.
Goose Island was also serving up their Matilda and Sofie while their master brewer, Greg Hall, delivered the key note address. He discussed the growth of New York’s craft beer week and raised a glass with the crowd. Afterword, we had the opportunity to drink a beer with him and asked him what was next for Goose Island. We didn’t actually get a definitive answer but it sounds like there are big things in store for the Chicago brewery.
Saturday, we took the night off from Craft Beer Week to slip into the Astoria Beer Garden for a few pints on their 100th birthday. It was a great experience as usual but there wasn’t much in the way of birthday festivities with the exception of a private party inside.
I wrapped up the week at Rattle N Hum on Sunday with Greg Koch and the Stone night. The 08.08.08 was certainly the highlight of the evening beer-wise but it couldn’t beat getting to hang out with Greg and get the “Greg Face Pic” with him. The man of the hour treated us to a roaring speech encouraging us all to take back our beer and stay away from the yellow piss some people call beer.
I also loved the Bourbon Barrell-Aged Double Bastard but the Mad Man Mix wasn’t really anything to write home about.
Check out a few pics below.
The taps at d.b.a. Brooklyn for Brew York’s Beer 2 Garden.
Enjoying a brew at d.b.a. Brooklyn for Brew York’s Beer 2 Garden.
Beer Goggins and Mad Hops at Brew York’s Beer 2 Garden.
Glasses set out for the Brewer’s Choice event at City Winery.
Brews and chocolate at the Brewer’s Choice event.
Ommegang’s Cup of Kyndness, a Scotch ale, at Brewer’s Choice.
Southampton’s Hommage at Brewer’s Choice.
Sausage in a pretzel roll with onion jam paired with Ithaca White Gold at Brewer’s Choice.
Oysters at Brewer’s Choice. (I wish I liked oysters …)
Greg Hall of Goose Island delivers the key note at Brewer’s Choice.
SlyFox selection at Brewer’s Choice.
Stone night at Rattle N Hum.
Hanging with Brew York, New York and Basically Red at Stone night at Rattle N Hum
Stone taps at Rattle N Hum.
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